Chemical Security Funding in HR 1473

I have finally had a chance to go back and look at the DHS spending in HR 1473 that might impact the chemical security community. I have discussed the general meaning of these in previous posts on HR 1 and HR 1363. So here are the numbers for HR 1473 with comparisons to HR 1 and the President’s FY 2011 Request.

SEC. 1617. Notwithstanding section 1101, the level for ‘‘Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Surface Transportation Security’’ shall be $105,961,000 [HR 1 - $105,961,000; FY 2011 Request - $137,558,000 (23% Reduction)].

SEC. 1626. Notwithstanding section 1101, the level for ‘‘Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Management and Administration’’ shall be $43,577,000 [HR 1 - $43,577,000; FY 2011 Request - $46,137,000 (6.5% Reduction)].

SEC. 1627. Notwithstanding section 1101, the level for ‘‘Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Infrastructure Protection and Information Security’’ shall be $840,444,000 [HR 1 - $805,965,000; FY 2011 Request - $865,965,000 (2.8% Reduction)].

Since there have been no hearings on these figures we have no way of know why the funding for NPPD-IP/IS has increased over the HR 1 figures. One would like to think that it is due to increased focus on ICS-CERT and CFATS; but that probably better reflects my priorities than those of Congress.